firmware

[ furm-wair ]

/ ˈfɜrmˌwɛər /

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noun Computers.

a microprogram stored in ROM, designed to implement a function that had previously been provided in software.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of firmware

First recorded in 1965–70; firm¹ + (soft)ware

Words nearby firmware

firmament, firman, firmer chisel, firmer gouge, firmly, firmware, firn, firnification, firn line, Firozabad, firry

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use firmware in a sentence

Tortoise got its start by equipping electric scooters with cameras, electronics and firmware that allow teleoperators in distant locales to drive electric scooters and bikes to a rider or deliver it back to its proper parking spot.
Albertsons taps Tortoise for remote-controlled grocery delivery robots|Kirsten Korosec|March 5, 2021|TechCrunch
The planned firmware update that will unlock this feature will also allow for higher cooling-fan speeds on the system to prevent overheating, Bloomberg reports.
Report: PS5 storage expansion will be available by summer|Kyle Orland|February 26, 2021|Ars Technica
Your AirPods will need to be running the latest firmware too.
How to get 360 audio on your new AirPods|David Nield|February 1, 2021|Popular-Science
You can manage the entire network from one user-friendly smartphone app in most cases, and many mesh systems also update their firmware automatically—which is a huge step up over most routers, which require you to update manually.
Best WiFi extenders: Five things to consider|Eric Alt|November 25, 2020|Popular-Science

However, other keyfobs which have an insecure firmware update mechanism could also be vulnerable to a similar attack.
Hackers said they could steal a Tesla Model X in minutes. Tesla pushed out a fix.|Faiz Siddiqui|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
Many devices like Televisions have an option to “update firmware” buried deep in their setup screens.
Your Refrigerator Is Vulnerable to a Cyberattack|Kevin Epstein|January 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Just flash the firmware on a ten-dollar Radio Shack reader/writer and you're done.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
I can also load my own designs, but that requires physical access to the thing, in order to load new firmware.
Makers|Cory Doctorow

British Dictionary definitions for firmware

firmware

/ (ˈfɜːmˌwɛə) /

noun

computing a fixed form of software programmed into a read-only memory

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012